FLY SMART, FLY SAFE
BVLOS Operations Forum unites innovators to unlock the next generation of aviation
Pioneering companies in the emerging uncrewed aviation industry have joined forces in a forum established by air traffic control leader NATS, to break through the barriers to the UK industry’s development.
The BVLOS Operations Forum, which includes the UK’s leading beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) operators, brings together organisations at the cutting edge of uncrewed flight to learn from each other’s experiences, collectively improve their operations, and jointly develop solutions to the challenges faced by this fast-growing industry.
The ever-increasing number of operators believe there are huge potential benefits to achieving routine BVLOS flights – including increased connectivity, decarbonisation, and economic opportunities for all parts of the country. Because innovation in this sector has moved so quickly, regulations have not yet caught up, meaning BVLOS flights are still restricted to specific areas.
Some progress has been achieved and the Forum has actively supported recent policy initiatives which set out a positive direction from the Government and the regulator. However, operators are still operating in restricted spaces. While these have allowed the sector to hone operations and develop real opportunities for BVLOS services, many operators, including members of the BVLOS Operations Forum, have now outgrown the available capacity and the constraints are posing a genuine challenge to their business model. Looking for ways to address that, while encouraging ever-increasing safety standards, is the central mission of the Forum.
The BVLOS Operations Forum has given those seeking to operate uncrewed aircraft beyond-visual-line-of-sight a platform to work together, and a means for driving change and establishing a safe and workable regulatory regime that will benefit the industry as a whole.
This method of working together has been used by traditional airspace operators for many years and has contributed to the robust safety culture that exists today. By uniting uncrewed operators with extensive experience and equally extensive ambition we can develop a similarly robust safety culture, and collectively plot a course toward safely integrated BVLOS operations.
Russell Porter, Head of UTM Programmes at NATS and Chair of the BVLOS Operations Forum.
The founding members of the Forum include ARPAS-UK, Blue Bear, Callen Lenz, Flylogix, Maritime & Coastguard Agency, NATS, Network Rail, sees.ai, Skyports and Windracers, all of whom are actively involved in developing BVLOS operations, and some of whom are already operating BVLOS flights commercially.
The shared goal is to achieve routine BVLOS operations, outside of restricted areas and integrated with other traffic, making uncrewed aircraft a safe and effective option in the aeronautical toolbox.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
For more information about the BVLOS Operations Forum please contact [email protected]. For more information about individual Forum members please use the details below.
About ARPAS-UK
ARPAS-UK is the only non-profit industry trade association and professional body, focused on the development of the UK drone community. Founded in 2013, ARPAS supports members from start-up businesses to larger established operators, manufacturers, software providers and service companies, through promotion of innovation and best practice.
ARPAS works in the public interest, and advocates professionalism within its membership through compliance with an agreed Code of Conduct and the holding of appropriate permissions. The Association takes progressive stances on national issues to embed the drone profession in all end-user industries, to enable it to continue to grow in reputation and influence
CONTACT: Rupert Dent, [email protected] / 07989 300918 or Aleks Kowalski, [email protected] / 07971 447407
About Blue Bear
Blue Bear are pioneers of autonomy and unmanned systems; evolving unmanned concepts, regardless of size, at a pace unmatched by other organisations. We deliver efficient solutions, professional services and commercial results, supporting both military and civil markets worldwide, with unmatched pace, agility, passion and innovation. Blue Bear’s track record in innovative research and flight test has won us several awards and a prime position in the domain of UAV development.
Blue Bear are designing future aircraft systems, including an all-electric propulsion module, accelerating the electrification of various classes of electric aircraft and leading a consortium developing and building an affordable, sub-regional aviation network that is zero carbon, highly automated and centrally focused on customer experience.
CONTACT: Lee Tomas, [email protected] / 01234 826620
About Callen Lenz
Callen-Lenz is a UK market leader for innovative technology solutions and complementary technical consultancy, for manned and unmanned aviation. Harnessing the latest, state-of-the-art technologies enables the company to create ground-breaking technological aerospace solutions and aerospace technology, for unmanned systems that require high levels of functionality, availability and safety. Outputs include bespoke aircraft, rapid prototyping, upgrades, software, avionics and technical services. Callen-Lenz is a sovereign British company with a number of international partners.
CONTACT: Piers Hankinson, 01722 744946
About Flylogix
Flylogix is a UK company pioneering new sustainable ways for companies to use unmanned aviation for missions and logistics without hindrance (human, weather, location) and with the least harm to the planet. Its advanced engineering combines next-generation technology with tough, small unmanned craft that can fly to the most remote locations, up to 500 km beyond the horizon, in some of the world’s harshest weather conditions. Flylogix services are in operation with leading global partners from the energy industries to support them to accurately measure methane emissions and with emergency response services such as Oil Spill Response Ltd (OSRL) working to reduce the cost and risk of global spill response.
CONTACT: Chris Adams, [email protected] / 07779 696833
About Maritime & Coastguard Agency
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is a frontline emergency response agency of the Department for Transport. As well as delivering maritime search and rescue through HM Coastguard (one of the four UK emergency services), the MCA is responsible for maritime regulation, safety and counter-pollution.
For further information about this or any MCA news story, please contact the Maritime and Coastguard Agency Press Office on 020381 72222 or [email protected]. You can also find us on hmcoastguard.blogspot.co.uk and on Twitter @MCA_media.
About NATS
NATS is the UK’s principal air navigation services provider and is split into two main businesses, which provide two distinct services:
NATS is alive to the opportunities that new airspace users present for airspace in the future and has worked closely with early innovators. Safety is always our number one priority, and we are working with increasing intensity to support the growth of this exciting new industry by safely integrating new users into a sustainable, modernised and fully integrated airspace.
For more information visit the NATS website at www.nats.aero
CONTACT: Press Office, [email protected] / 01489 445699
About Network Rail
Network Rail owns, operates and develops Britain’s railway infrastructure. That’s 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We manage 20 of the UK’s largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are managed by the country’s train operating companies.
We exist to get people and goods where they need to be and to support our country’s economic prosperity, by running a safe, reliable and efficient railway, serving customers and communities.
For more information visit Network Rail website at https://www.networkrail.co.uk/
CONTACT: Jack Harvey, [email protected]
About sees.ai
sees.ai has developed a semi-autonomous drone inspection system that enables national
scale drone operations to be piloted and managed from a central location. This technology
removes the requirement for skilled pilots to travel to the inspection site and as a result,
dramatically increases the scalability of drone operations whilst maintaining the highest
standards of quality and safety. The system is particularly well suited to detailed drone
inspection and survey of industrial assets and infrastructure, where it is necessary to get
close to the asset in hazardous environments. It simultaneously captures both 2D and 3D
information (digital twin), dramatically improving the ability to automate analysis, reducing
time and cost of inspection and maintenance.
Inspired by the team’s backgrounds in Formula 1, sees.ai uses advanced telemetry,
diagnostics, analytics and simulation tools to make it possible to safely deliver this capability
at national scale. The company was an early participant in the Civil Aviation Authority’s
(CAA) Regulatory Sandbox. The company currently holds the most advanced BVLOS
permission ever given by the CAA.
For more information visit the sees.ai website at: https://www.sees.ai/
CONTACT: Amanda Prosser, [email protected] / +44 7792 108193
About Skyports
Skyports Drone Services is an industry leading drone operator. The company is expert in the operation of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) and autonomous flight for a multitude of use cases, including ship-to-shore and maritime applications, medical and dangerous goods deliveries, survey and monitoring operations. In addition to pioneering operations, Skyports Drone Services plays a key role in the development of the regulatory ecosystem for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).
Skyports Drone Services is a business division of Skyports. Formed in 2018, Skyports is driven by a vision to enable society to enjoy a safer, happier, wealthier existence by improving connectivity to people and goods through the provision of AAM infrastructure and drone services, whilst protecting the planet for future generations.
Find out more at: skyportsdroneservices.com
CONTACT: Maggie Mullan, [email protected] / +44 (0) 7946 090585
About Windracers
The middle mile of supply and logistics, especially to remote locations, has long been overlooked by the industry and is ripe for innovation. Windracers spent the last five years developing the most commercially viable logistics drones to enable the transport of goods and essential supplies to remote regions around the UK and beyond. The company specialises in all aspects of the value chain, including R&D, manufacturing, and operations. The team has extensive expertise in working with the CAA, and as such has been allowed to operate BVLOS point-to-point flights in over 10 locations in the UK.
CONTACT: [email protected]
28 July 2022
ARPAS-UK Member, Dronecloud recently announced it was awarded a 5-year deal to provide Flight Management Systems (FMS) for Network Rail’s growing drone operation. The deal delivers safety and efficiency for the drone operations of today while paving the way for Network Rail to embrace the opportunities offered by future drone technology such as Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) and Autonomous flight.
Dronecloud & Network Rail worked together to extend the rapidly expanding features within the Dronecloud platform to all drone users (commercial or recreational) planning to fly over or near the Network Rail Line infrastructure.
The output of this close collaboration is a simple to use digital flight approval process built in to Dronecloud.
A REQUEST TO ALL DRONE PILOTS:
If you or your company operate drone flights that come within 50 metres of the Network Rail’s line network, they kindly ask that you submit the flight plan and for approval.
It’s a quick and easy process requiring basic flight details and risk assessment. The tools and templates to do this are built into Dronecloud with an intuitive step-by-step workflow guiding you along. Approvals are typically given with 24 hours.
https://app.dronecloud.io/
AIRSPACE APPROVALS – A CALL TO INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS
This is the UK’s first airspace approval platform to digitally engage infrastructures owners with drone end-users for direct approval. The system has proven hugely successful for both Network Rail and drone operators and acts as the perfect Blue Print for Infrastructure and other bodies who are looking to better manage the safety and control of airspace.
The future of drone airspace approval will be dynamic, real-time and part of a wider, more integrated Unified traffic management service. To get there, Dronecloud are requesting help and engagement of similar infrastructure owners such as airports and aerodromes etc. In fact any entity who has a growing need to improve visibility of the drone flights that are occurring in and around their assets.
We’re looking to work with different industry sectors to expand on the amazing progress Network Rail and Dronecloud have made. If you’d like to work with us and be part of this exciting journey, please get in touch with Andrew Blogg.
[email protected]
7 April 2021
ARPAS-UK Member, Dronecloud today announced that it has been appointed by Network Rail to deliver Drone Management Software across its drone fleet. The deal covers the development and license of the software over the next five years. Network Rail will use the software to manage the deployment of multiple drone projects, monitoring and surveying rail infrastructure whilst managing in-house and contracted drone pilot’s activities. The software will support the safe, compliant and efficient running of concurrent projects and create an audit trail of completed work.
Enterprise deployments of drones are now being used across industries to survey and monitor sites which would previously be expensive, complex, or unsafe to monitor in person. The use of drones, however, comes with its own complexities, amplified when scaled. Current and future proposed legislation provides rules and guidelines on the proper planning, operation and reporting of drone use. Similarly, the logistics of managing hundreds of drone projects quickly becomes difficult, ensuring the drones are fit to fly, that the operator is suitably qualified and that the task is properly specified.
Dronecloud is a provider of Drone Management Software. Its technology is designed to streamline the administration of drone operations safely, at scale. Whilst it works for individual drone pilots wanting to create and store audit trails, for enterprise clients it also offers to significantly cut operating costs by combing business and technical tools. Ultimately, it aims to support its clients to be able to safely operate drones beyond visual
line of sight.
Speaking of the agreement, Dronecloud’s CEO Jan Domaradzki said: “Network Rail is the perfect partner for us. We have a shared vision of the efficiencies that well managed drone operations can give to infrastructure projects. Network Rail has demonstrated that it is forward-thinking, its team understands the challenges and complexities of enterprise scale drone operations, so we are well aligned on where we can support them now, and in the future.
In many industries drone operations have evolved organically, with more and more tasks being completed by drones as the benefits are better understood. As operations become more complex, we’re experiencing a high level of enquiries from companies that are keen to ensure that they are both compliant, efficient and, above all, safe in how they operate. With
dozens, if not hundreds of drone projects running, the traditional mosaic of multiple datapoints, spreadsheets, emails, is just not a sustainable way of managing operations. It’s a busy an exciting time to be rolling out our software to more clients.”
Rikke Carmichael, Head of Air Operations at Network Rail said: “With the number of drone flights at the level it is and only going to climb higher in the future, we needed a flight management system to manage the load to ensure we are as efficient and safe as possible. It will show drone pilots if another drone is operating nearby, as well as alert the pilot to other potential ground or air hazards in the area of the flight.”
About Dronecloud
Dronecloud is a London based, Software as a Service (SaaS) technology company. Dronecloud’s platform simplifies management of workflow for commercial drone operators through a cloud-based SaaS platform. The platform is designed to be the most sophisticated of its type, bringing together the highest quality tools in the drone industry with custom
integrations offering users simple management of the complete job timeline from quotation to completion and beyond.
Developed by drone operators for drone operators, Dronecloud provides one central ecosystem for organisations using drones to manage complex operations. The platform launched in June 2019 following several years of development and testing.
More information
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For customers and partners: [email protected]
2 February 2021
AmeyVTOL has successfully demonstrated the first drone inspection of UK infrastructure to go beyond visual line of sight (BVLoS).
During the demonstration, the VTOL flying wing surveyed an area of 2km autonomously and out of the sight of the pilot. Previous to this, drone inspections were limited to flight within visual line of sight (WVLoS) and as such, could not go further than 500 metres from the pilot.
The successful trial opens up significant possibilities for BVLoS inspections of long linear infrastructure such as roads, railways and overhead power lines. Not only does BVLoS save time and massively reduce inspection and survey costs, it also increases the quality, volume, and repeatability of data – enabling better asset management decisions and more efficient maintenance.
Most importantly, it also enables inspections and surveys to be undertaken without people needing to work alongside a live railway, removing ‘boots from ballast’.
The success was made possible through AmeyVTOL’s innovative VTOL Flying Wing that can fly up to 100km on a single charge due to a unique hybrid design and an optimised energy system. Preparation and execution of the trial was made possible through AmeyVTOL’s state of the art operational control centre which enables the planning, simulation, and remote monitoring of BVLoS drone operations. Advanced communications and simulation capabilities were developed in partnership with world leader Collins Aerospace.
Speaking on the announcement, Alex Gilbert, Managing Director, Amey Consulting said: “We are delighted to have successfully trialled a UK first for asset management. Through our collaboration with SME VTOL technologies we have developed a genuine innovation that could transform inspections and surveys for asset owners in both the public and private sector. Being able to go beyond visual line of sight will not just provide safer, more effective inspections but it will empower asset managers with increasingly reliable data, resulting in informed, intelligent decision making.”
The demonstration project was part of a government-sponsored Rail First of a Kind (FOAK) programme promoted by Innovate UK through the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI). SBRI is designed to bring together government challenges and ideas from businesses to create innovative solutions and was instrumental in enabling the demonstration of BVLoS operations.
AmeyVTOL will now be offering this capability to infrastructure owners and operators who want to deliver efficient and repeatable asset safety and condition inspections, and topographical surveys, without placing people in hazardous environments.
30th April 2020
New funding for innovative work on the UK’s rail network has been allocated to help them become more efficient, greener and cleaner.
The £7.8m allocation will be shared between a number of projects to help achieve this ultimate objective.
As part of the announcement from Innovate UK and the Department for Transport, it outlines how drones could play a central role in the work.
It details how drones being used to inspect railway infrastructure along with hydrogen trains and a sound bending wall to cut noise pollution are among 24 winning projects in the third round of the First of a Kind competition.
Commenting, rail minister, Andrew Jones, said: “The First of a Kind competition has consistently produced truly innovative projects developed for the benefit of passengers, helping to drive forward a greener, cleaner and more efficient rail network. This government is also investing £48 billion to modernise our rail network over the next 5 years, ensuring people have the safe, frequent and punctual journeys they deserve.”
He continued: “Among the successful projects is 4Silence’s plan to develop a noise-reducing wall that works by diffracting sound waves from passing trains upwards. This makes it as effective as a barrier 3 times its height.
“Another scheme being supported is Amey VTOL’s development of a drone system that could carry out track inspections from the skies. This would avoid the need for people to set foot on railway infrastructure.
The first round of First of a Kind was launched in 2017 and saw 10 projects win a share of £3.5 million to develop ideas to improve passenger experience and demonstrate tomorrow’s trains.
The second round focused on schemes aimed at cutting the carbon footprint on the UK’s railways and enhancing stations for passengers. This saw another 10 projects offered a share of £3.5 million.
AmeyVTOL set up a Joint Venture in the summer of 2016, with the Flying Wing drone. It carries ground penetrating radar, high definition video and still, infrared, thermal and light detection and ranging sensors.
The Flying Wing can take off and land anywhere, travel long distances at speeds of up to 60km/h and change direction to map the same route over and over, regardless of weather conditions. It also captures data in real time and streaming it live to a data processing engine.
At the time, AmeyVTOL service development director Richard Butterfield said: “Using this cutting-edge technology to inspect the vital infrastructure that we all rely on is a world first. It will change the way we inspect assets forever; allowing us to assess at the touch of a button, make real-time recommendations and potentially save millions of pounds for our clients.”
From Commercial Drone Professional and other sources.
13/6/2019